Police departments seeing modest cuts, but not ‘defunding’
4 years, 3 months ago

Police departments seeing modest cuts, but not ‘defunding’

Associated Press  

DAVENPORT, Iowa — The racial justice protests following the death of George Floyd earlier this year prompted calls to “defund the police” in cities across the country, a priority for activists that has now become a central point in the presidential contest. The City Council approved something much more modest — cuts equal to less than 1% of the police budget and shifts of some money to community programs. In a statement, Durkan said the calls for budget cuts don’t come with solutions about how to offer many of the services police perform, including dealing with homeless encampments. In Portland, this year’s police budget is nearly $10 million less than last year’s, but that was far less than the $50 million cut activists had sought. In Davenport, Iowa, the Civil Rights Commission is asking the City Council to consider a list of initiatives on public safety, including reallocating money from police to social services and community programs.

Public Safety Cities Democratic City Council Including Minneapolis Floyd Davenport Budget Cuts Durkan Community Programs  city  officers  million  departments  modest  defunding  policing  budget  cuts  council  cities  enforcement  seeing  including

History of this topic

Atlanta project decried as ‘Cop City’ gets funding approval from City Council
1 year, 7 months ago

Atlanta project decried as ‘Cop City’ gets funding approval from City Council

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — The Atlanta City Council early Tuesday approved funding for the construction of a proposed police and firefighter training center, rejecting the pleas of hundreds of activists who packed City Hall and spoke for hours in fierce opposition to the project they decry as “Cop City.” The 11-4 vote just after 5 a.m. is a significant victory for Mayor …

Democratic Voters Reject Police Funding Cuts, But Embrace More Modest Reforms
3 years, 2 months ago

Democratic Voters Reject Police Funding Cuts, But Embrace More Modest Reforms

Huff Post  

Bruce Harrell, who combined calls for reform with support for hiring more police officers, defeated a more left-wing candidate in Seattle's mayoral race on Tuesday. “And if it’s not playing in the bluest of blue cities, it sure as hell isn’t going to play in Peoria.” At the same time, Cleveland voters approved a ballot measure adopting greater civilian oversight …

Defund the police encounters resistance as violent crime spikes
3 years, 7 months ago

Defund the police encounters resistance as violent crime spikes

CNN  

CNN — One year since a nationwide movement sparked calls for slashing police funding in favor of other nontraditional forms of public safety, it’s not clear whether any city achieved anything resembling what protesters demanded: massively defunded or abolished police departments. The sustained increase in violent crime, the gun violence that we’ve been seeing, and calls from the community that …

Did we defund the police? No, but “big changes are happening” even after protests die down
4 years ago

Did we defund the police? No, but “big changes are happening” even after protests die down

Salon  

After weeks of nationwide protests over the police killings of unarmed Black people this summer, many demonstrators worried that newfound political support for cutting police budgets would die down once the television cameras turned off. Hooks said that the protests came just as Atlanta came out of its budgeting session and city officials "refused to listen to what the public …

Minneapolis approves cuts to police budget, not staffing
4 years ago

Minneapolis approves cuts to police budget, not staffing

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Minneapolis City Council votes to cut millions from the police budget
4 years, 1 month ago

Minneapolis City Council votes to cut millions from the police budget

CNN  

CNN — The Minneapolis City Council voted to redirect $7.77 million from the police budget to other programs, according to a news release early Thursday. The city’s budget for 2021 included “Safety for All” amendments that redirect those funds toward “preventing violence and building community well-being,” according to the release obtained by CNN from Council Member Steve Fletcher. “The City …

Defund or abolish? US debate about police reform continues
4 years, 4 months ago

Defund or abolish? US debate about police reform continues

Al Jazeera  

As case begins against officers involved in George Floyd’s death, activists call for police abolition and defunding. “So, we are fighting for a future … without police, a future without prisons, because we believe that these institutions actively work to oppress Black communities.” Although Black people account for roughly 13 percent of the US population, they make up as much …

US: Seattle police chief resigns as one percent of budget cut
4 years, 4 months ago

US: Seattle police chief resigns as one percent of budget cut

Al Jazeera  

Seattle authorities said the cut was a ‘down payment’ for future reductions, but it falls short of protesters’ demands. Her resignation came after the city council on Monday approved a reduction in the budget of the city’s police department of less than one percent after months of protests demanding that it defund the force. Best, the first African-American woman to …

Crime is surging in US cities. Some say defunding the police will actually make it fall
4 years, 5 months ago

Crime is surging in US cities. Some say defunding the police will actually make it fall

CNN  

CNN — It’s been a long time since summer in the US felt this feverish. In a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio and other New York leaders, PBA President Patrick Lynch said city officials “created an atmosphere of hatred and disrespect toward police officers and criminals are taking full advantage.” When the New York Attorney General issued guidelines for …

Officials, activists agree it’s time to ‘reimagine’ the LAPD, but they continue to spar over how
4 years, 6 months ago

Officials, activists agree it’s time to ‘reimagine’ the LAPD, but they continue to spar over how

LA Times  

Convening the Los Angeles City Council’s special committee on police reform Wednesday, Councilman Herb Wesson Jr. cited the ongoing national movement for enhanced police accountability as an opportunity to reshape the Los Angeles Police Department. Callers into Wednesday’s police reform committee meeting repeatedly raised the People’s Budget as their preferred option for “reimagining” public safety in the city as well. …

To cut LAPD’s budget by $150 million, reduce officer ranks below 10,000, report says
4 years, 6 months ago

To cut LAPD’s budget by $150 million, reduce officer ranks below 10,000, report says

LA Times  

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nury Martinez, shown at a news conference in 2017, is pushing for cuts of up to $150 million at the LAPD. “We cannot keep cutting core city services while growing the department that is the largest segment of the budget.” Craig Lally, president of the union that represents rank-and-file officers at the LAPD, immediately denounced the …

As calls mount to defund or disband police departments across the US, here's what such a process would actually entail
4 years, 7 months ago

As calls mount to defund or disband police departments across the US, here's what such a process would actually entail

Firstpost  

A veto-proof majority of the Minneapolis City Council pledged on Sunday to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department, promising to create a new system of public safety in a city where law enforcement has long been accused of racism Minneapolis: Across the US, calls are mounting from some activists and elected officials to defund, downsize or abolish police departments. A veto-proof …

Cities Ask If It's Time To Reimagine Policing In The U.S.
4 years, 7 months ago

Cities Ask If It's Time To Reimagine Policing In The U.S.

NPR  

Cities Ask If It's Time To Reimagine Policing In The U.S. For years, activists who've criticized police abuse have called for cuts in law enforcement budgets – often with little success. CORLEY: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, says she's heard the talk about defunding police departments. The weeks of protests, the demand for defunding police departments, and the unrest that's left …

Police Budgets Have Long Been Untouchable. That Could Change.
4 years, 7 months ago

Police Budgets Have Long Been Untouchable. That Could Change.

Huff Post  

As demonstrations spotlighting racial injustice and police brutality continue, the chorus is growing to "defund" law enforcement agencies. Photo Illustration: HuffPost Visuals; Photo: Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images Chants to “Defund the police!” have reverberated around the country, from New York City to Minneapolis and through the streets of Los Angeles, as thousands of people protested racist police violence this …

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